The Provision of a Mental Health Service for Children and Young People (CYP) with Learning Disability and/or Autism, including Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) Supporting CYP with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Location

Hertford

Description

Specialist Mental Health Service for Children & Young People (CYP) with a Learning Disability and/or who are autistic. The service supports the mental health needs of CYP who have complex needs and present with significant communication challenges, as a result of their Learning Disability and or autism that require specialist approaches to mental health support. These often do not appear in isolation and many of CYP will experience co-occurring difficulties, such as: • Emotional dysregulation • Behaviours of concern[2] (includes CYP with LD and/or ASD that may show behaviours of concern that seem unrelated to mental health at first but underlying mental health needs often become clearer once support begins) • Sleep difficulties, feeding difficulties, and toileting difficulties • Withdrawal from usual activities significantly impacting activities of daily living (ADL) • Sensory processing difficulties In addition, Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) provide early help mental health support for pupils (reception to year 13*) with mild to moderate difficulties who are on roll at education settings within Hertfordshire.

CPV Codes

• 85000000 - Health and social work services

Other Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Regulations 2024 do not apply to this award. The contract has now been formally awarded using direct award process C. The contract was awarded on 14th February 2026, and commenced on 1st April 2026, and will continue until 31st March 2028 with the provision to extend for two years. The estimated total value of the contract is £20,371,012. The maximum contract value for the 2+2 year term is indicative only. Actual annual contract values will be advised each financial year subject to any Central East ICB uplifts and efficiency requirements. Variation is expected within the MHST element as teams reach maturity. Confirmed annual contract values will be issued to the Provider each financial year via a formal Contract Variation. For 2026/27 MHST contract value will be confirmed by 31 May 2026 by a Contract Variation to the Provider.